Be a Citizen Scientist for Black Bear Research in New York

iSeeMammals is a new citizen science project of the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University and DEC.

It seeks to collect data to help researchers and DEC biologists study the distribution and size of the black bear population in New York. iSeeMammals will help researchers collect data over more areas that what researchers could cover in the field.

Participation is open to all. iSeeMammals collects information about where and when users identify bears or bear signs (scat, tracks, hair, markings) while on hikes or on their personal trail cameras. Photographs of observations, repeat hikes, and trail cameras set up for multiple months are strongly encouraged. An app for data collection and submission is available for free download in Apple and Android stores.

Visit iseemammals.org to learn more about the project, to access photo galleries of iSeeMammals data as photos are submitted, for information on bear ecology and bear management in New York, and for fun quizzes, contests, and giveaways.

Training workshops and seminars may be available; inquire via the contact form at iseemammals.org.